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Academic Forgiveness - University Level

The Academic Forgiveness Policy allows students who experienced prior academic difficulty at UW-Whitewater to have one opportunity to have all previous UW-Whitewater grades excluded from the cumulative grade point average. The policy provides for the calculation of a new grade point average for all subsequent coursework.

Criteria for applying for Academic Forgiveness

You must have been absent from any formalized higher education for a minimum of five consecutive years prior to readmission to UW-Whitewater.

You first complete 12 credits at UW-Whitewater before you can apply for academic forgiveness.

This form needs to be completed and turned in to the Academic Standards Office after successfully completing your first 12 credits after returning to UW-Whitewater. All grades must be official prior to submitting your application, with all grades taken for a conventional grade basis. Grades of I (incomplete), N (no grade reported), or blank will be accepted.

The Academic Standards Committee will meet to review your appeal and your academic record to determine committee action.

You will be notified by Academic Standards of the committee decision. The decision made the committee is final.

If academic forgiveness is granted, your academic record (official transcript) will be updated to reflect academic forgiveness and the calculation of your new cumulative grade point average.

Academic Forgiveness - College of Education

Academic Forgiveness for the College of Education may be applied for students who have not been full time (12-completed credit load per semester) for three consecutive years would be eligible to apply for academic forgiveness one time in their academic career.

The Academic Forgiveness Policy does not replace other university policies and is used only in calculating GPA for admission to professional education. The admissions GPA would be based on the most recent 40 or more credits after an absence from an accredited institution of higher education for a minimum of three consecutive years. All credits would have to be from UWW or colleges and universities that would be accepted by the UWW Admissions Office and/or met UWW transfer equivalencies.

Post baccalaureate course work from an accredited institution would be considered on an individual bases as needed to meet admission requirements. (Classes taken within a single semester would not be split. In other words if a student had two semester of 18 credits each for a total of 36 credits and the third semester was a course load of 15 credits, all 15 credits would be counted for a total of 51 credits.)

RANKING: Admission ranking will be as follows:

Applicants who meet all basic eligibility requirements without the use of the Academic Forgiveness or Exception policies will be ranked by GPA and will be selected first for admission slots.

Applicants who meet all basic eligibility requirements with the use of the Academic Forgiveness policy, but is not an exception, will be ranked by GPA and will be selected second for open admission slots.

Applicants who fall under the Exception policy (regardless of Academic Forgiveness), will be ranked by GPA and will be selected third for open admission slots. Only the top 10% of exceptions will be granted admission, IF room is available in their chosen program.

Academic Forgiveness - College of Business and Economics

Academic Forgiveness for the College of Business and Economics is defined for students who have been absent from formalized higher education for a minimum of five consecutive years prior to readmission or admission or who have a five-year gap prior to recent transfer work. The recent transfer grade point average must meet the gpa required for admission to the University as a pre-business major.

Academic Forgiveness Granted

Students receiving Academic Forgiveness may enroll as pre-business and must maintain a 2.5 or better grade point to enroll in lower division business classes. After completing all pre-business requirements, students may apply for admission to the College. Admission is determined by the combined grade point since being readmitted. The admission standard will be the same one expected of others who apply during that term.

If all pre-business requirements have been completed at the time of readmission, students may complete an application for admission into the College and will be admitted. Students must earn at least a 2.8 grade point on the first 12 credits, if enrolling part time, or the first semester, if enrolled full time, to remain in their major. If this requirement is not met, they will be reclassified pre-business and may reapply after raising their combined grade point to at least 2.8.

Students must maintain a 2.5 or better grade point to take business classes after the initial semester. Any business course with grade of D or F from previous UW-W enrollment must be repeated. A 2.5 or better in major, all business, and combined is needed to graduate with a business major.

Student in good standing (2.00 grade point or better) and no Academic Forgiveness

Students who have been absent from formalized higher education for a minimum of five consecutive years prior to readmission to UW-W, who do not receive academic forgiveness, and who have a combined grade point of 2.0 but less than 2.5 may enroll as pre-business. They will begin with no grade point average in major and all business. Students may enroll in lower division business requirements (if they have completed 24 credits) and must maintain a combined grade point of at least 2.5 to continue taking lower division business classes after the initial semester.

After completing all pre-business requirements, students may apply for admission to the College. Admission is determined by the combined grade point average since being readmitted. The admission standard will be the same one expected of others who apply during that term.

If all pre-business requirements have been completed at the time of readmission to UW-W, students may complete an application for admission into the College and will be admitted. Students must earn at least a 2.8 grade point on the first 12 credits, if enrolling part time, or the first semester, if enrolled full time, to remain in their major. If this requirement is not met, they will be reclassified pre-business and must reapply after they have raised their combined grade point to at least 2.8. Students must maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average to take business classes after the initial semester. Any business course with grade of D or F from previous UW-W enrollment must be repeated. A 2.5 or better in major and all business classes is needed to graduate with a business major. The 2.5 combined cumulative grade point requirement of the College will not be applied.

Student Not in Good Standing (less than 2.00 grade point) and No Academic Forgiveness

Students who have been absent from formalized higher education for a minimum of five consecutive years prior to readmission to UW-W, who do not receive academic forgiveness, and who have a combined grade point of less than 2.0 will be classified pre-business and must raise their combined grade point to 2.0 before they will be permitted to take lower division business classes.

After raising the combined grade point to at least 2.0, students may begin taking lower division business classes (if they have completed 24 credits). After completing all pre-business requirements, they may apply for admission to the College. Admission to the College is determined by the combined grade point average since being readmitted. The admission standard will be the same one expected of others who apply during that term.

If all pre-business requirements have been completed at the time of readmission to UW-W, students may complete an application for admission into the College and will be admitted. Students must earn at least a 2.8 grade point on the first 12 credits, if enrolling part time, or the first semester, if enrolled full time to remain in their major. If this requirement is not met, they will be reclassified pre-business and must reapply after they have raised their combined grade point to at least 2.8. Students must maintain a 2.5 or better grade point to take business classes after the initial semester. Any business course with grade of D or F from previous UW-W enrollment must be repeated. A 2.5 or better in major and all business classes is needed to graduate with a business major. The 2.5 combined grade point requirement of the College will not be applied.